June 30th - Happy Birthday Vincent D'Onofrio, Mike Tyson & Michael PhelpsToday is Saturday, June 30, the 182nd day of 2012. There are 184 days left in the year.

Holidays and observances for June 30
Today is the Feast Day of St. Martial (first Bishop of Limoges, France); St. Theobald of Provins, France (a hermit); and the First Martyrs of the Church of Rome (killed by the emperor Nero, including Roman senator Tacitus and Pope Clement I).
It is also Army Day (Guatemala), General Prayer Day (Central African Republic), Independence Day (Democratic Republic of the Congo, from Belgium in 1960), Philippine–Spanish Friendship Day in the Philippines.
June 30 is also the Eastern Orthodox liturgics, General Prayer Day (Central African Republic), Independence Day (Democratic Republic of the Congo from Belgium in 1960), and Philippine–Spanish Friendship Day (Philippines).

Today's Highlight in History:
On June 30, 1912, Canada's deadliest tornado on record occurred as a late-afternoon cyclone struck Regina, the provincial capital of Saskatchewan, killing 28 people and destroying or damaging 500 buildings.

On this date:
In 350, Roman usurper Nepotianus, of the Constantinian dynasty, is defeated and killed by troops of the usurper Magnentius, in Rome.
In 1422, Battle of Arbedo between the duke of Milan and the Swiss cantons.
In 1520, Spanish conquistadors led by Hernán Cortés fight their way out of Tenochtitlan.
In 1521, Spanish forces defeat a combined French and Navarrese army at the Battle of Noáin during the Spanish conquest of Iberian Navarre.
In 1559, King Henry II of France is mortally wounded in a jousting match against Gabriel de Montgomery.
In 1651, The Deluge: Khmelnytsky Uprising, the Battle of Beresteczko ends with a Polish victory.
In 1688, The Immortal Seven issue the Invitation to William (continuing the English rebellion from Rome), which would culminate in the Glorious Revolution.
In 1758, Seven Years' War: The Battle of Domstadtl takes place.
In 1794, Native American forces under Blue Jacket attack Fort Recovery.
In 1805, The U.S. Congress organizes the Michigan Territory.
In 1859, French acrobat Charles Blondin walked back and forth on a tightrope above the gorge of Niagara Falls as thousands of spectators watched.
In 1860, the famous Oxford University Museum debate on Darwin's theory of evolution took place as Anglican Bishop Samuel Wilberforce led his side in denouncing the concept, while biologist T.H. Huxley defended it.
In 1864, U.S. President Abraham Lincoln grants Yosemite Valley to California for "public use, resort and recreation".
In 1882, Charles J. Guiteau is hanged in Washington, D.C. for the assassination of U.S. President James Garfield.
In 1886, The first transcontinental train trip across Canada departs from Montreal. It arrives in Port Moody, British Columbia on July 4.
In 1905, Albert Einstein publishes the article On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies, in which he introduces special relativity.
In 1906, The United States Congress passes the Meat Inspection Act and Pure Food and Drug Act.
In 1908, the Tunguska Event took place in Russia as an asteroid exploded above Siberia, leaving 800 square miles of scorched or blown-down trees.
In 1912, The Regina Cyclone hits Regina, Saskatchewan, killing 28. It remains Canada's deadliest tornado event.
In 1921, President Warren G. Harding nominated former President William Howard Taft to be chief justice of the United States, succeeding the late Edward Douglass White.
In 1922, In Washington D.C., U.S. Secretary of State Charles Evans Hughes and Dominican Ambassador Francisco J. Peynado sign the Hughes-Peynado agreement, which ends the United States occupation of the Dominican Republic.
In 1934, Adolf Hitler carried out his "blood purge" of political and military rivals in Germany in what came to be known as "The Night of the Long Knives."
In 1935, The Senegalese Socialist Party holds its first congress.
In 1936, Emperor Haile Selassie of Abyssinia appeals for aid to the League of Nations against Italy's invasion of his country.
In 1936, the epic Civil War novel "Gone with the Wind" by Margaret Mitchell was first published by The Macmillan Co. in New York.
In 1937, The world's first emergency telephone number, 999, is introduced in London.
In 1944, World War II: The Battle of Cherbourg ends with the fall of the strategically valuable port to American forces.
In 1952, "The Guiding Light," a popular radio program, began a 57-year television run on CBS.
In 1953, The first Chevrolet Corvette rolls off the assembly line in Flint, Mich.
In 1956, A TWA Super Constellation and a United Airlines DC-7 collide above the Grand Canyon in Arizona, killing all 128 on board the two planes.
In 1958, the U.S. Senate passed the Alaska statehood bill by a vote of 64-20.
In 1959, A United States Air Force F-100 Super Sabre from Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, crashes into a nearby elementary school, killing 11 students plus six residents from the local neighborhood.
In 1960, Congo gains independence from Belgium.
In 1963, Pope Paul VI was crowned the 262nd head of the Roman Catholic Church.
In 1963, Ciaculli massacre: a car bomb, intended for Mafia boss Salvatore Greco, kills seven police officers and military personnel near Palermo.
In 1966, The National Organization for Women, the United States' largest feminist organization, is founded.
In 1968, Pope Paul VI issues the Credo of the People of God.
In 1969, Nigeria bans Red Cross aid to Biafra.
In 1971, The crew of the Soviet Soyuz 11 spacecraft are killed when their air supply escapes through a faulty valve.
In 1971, Ohio ratifies the 26th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, reducing the voting age to 18, thereby putting the amendment into effect.
In 1972, for the first time, a leap-second was added to Coordinated Universal Time to account for the slowing rotation of the Earth.
In 1977, The Southeast Asia Treaty Organization disbands.
In 1982, the proposed Equal Rights Amendment to the U.S. Constitution expired, having failed to receive the required number of ratifications for its adoption, despite having its seven-year deadline extended by three years.
In 1985, 39 American hostages from a hijacked TWA jetliner were freed in Beirut after being held 17 days.
In 1986, The U.S. Supreme Court rules in Bowers v. Hardwick that states can outlaw homosexual acts between consenting adults.
In 1987, The Royal Canadian Mint introduces the $1 coin, known as the Loonie.
In 1990, East Germany and West Germany merge their economies.
In 1991, 32 miners are killed when a coal mine catches fire in the Donbass region of Ukraine and releases toxic gas.
In 1997, The United Kingdom transfers sovereignty over Hong Kong to the People's Republic of China.
In 2009, Yemenia Flight 626 crashes into the Indian Ocean, near Comoros, killing all but one of the 153 passengers and crew on board.

Ten years ago: Leonard Gregg, a part-time firefighter, was charged with starting one of the two wildfires that merged into a monstrous blaze in eastern Arizona. (Gregg later pleaded guilty and was sentenced in 2004 to 10 years in federal prison; he was released in June 2011.) Brazil defeated Germany, 2-0, for the team's record fifth World Cup title.

Five years ago: Two men rammed a jeep loaded with gasoline canisters into the main terminal at Glasgow Airport in Scotland, failing to set off an explosion, but seriously burning one of the suspects; the attack came a day after two cars rigged as bombs were found in London.

One year ago: The [sign in to see URL] Special Tribunal for Lebanon issued an indictment naming four suspects in the assassination of Lebanon's former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, including a high-ranking Hezbollah militant linked to the 1983 truck bombings at the U.S. and French embassies in Kuwait. (Hezbollah is refusing to extradite the suspects.) Conservative TV commentator Glenn Beck said goodbye to Fox News Channel, airing his final show before going into business for himself.

Re: June 30thToday is Sunday, June 30, the 181st day of 2013. There are 184 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:
On June 30, 1953, the first Chevrolet Corvette, with its innovative fiberglass body, was built at a General Motors assembly facility in Flint, Mich.

One year ago: Islamist Mohammed Morsi became Egypt's first freely elected president as he was sworn in during a pair of ceremonies. An international conference in Geneva accepted a [sign in to see URL] peace plan calling for creation of a transitional government in Syria, but at Russia's insistence the compromise left the door open to Syria's president being a part of it. Former Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir died at age 96. Yaroslava Shvedova of Kazakhstan became the first player in a Grand Slam tournament to win every point of a set on her way to beating French Open runner-up Sara Errani 6-0, 6-4 in the third round of Wimbledon.

Re: June 30thToday is Monday, June 30, the 181st day of 2014. There are 184 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:
On June 30, 1934, Adolf Hitler launched his "blood purge" of political and military rivals in Germany in what came to be known as "The Night of the Long Knives."

Ten years ago: A federal appeals court approved an antitrust settlement Microsoft had negotiated with the Justice Department. The Iraqis took legal custody of Saddam Hussein and eleven of his top lieutenants, a first step toward the ousted dictator's expected trial for crimes against humanity. After nearly seven years of travel, the international Cassini spacecraft entered Saturn's orbit.

Five years ago: Democrat Al Franken was declared the winner of Minnesota's eight-month U.S. Senate vote recount, defeating Republican incumbent Norm Coleman. A Yemeni jet with 153 people on board crashed into the Indian Ocean as it tried to land on the island nation of Comoros; a 12-year-old girl was the sole survivor. American soldier Pfc. Bowe R. Bergdahl went missing from his base in eastern Afghanistan, and was later confirmed to have been captured by insurgents. (Bergdahl was released on May 31, 2014 in exchange for five Taliban detainees.) Musical actor Harve Presnell, 75, died in Santa Monica, California.

One year ago: Nineteen elite firefighters known as members of the Granite Mountain Hotshots were killed battling a wildfire northwest of Phoenix after a change in wind direction pushed the flames back toward their position. Addressing students at the University of Cape Town, South Africa, President Barack Obama declared that the future of the young and growing continent still rested in Nelson Mandela's vision for equality and opportunity. Millions thronged the streets of Cairo and cities around Egypt and marched on the presidential palace in an attempt to force out Islamist President Mohammed Morsi. Inbee Park won the U.S. Women's Open in Southampton, New York, for her third straight major of the year.

Re: June 30thToday is Tuesday, June 30, the 181st day of 2015. There are 184 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:
On June 30, 1865, eight people, including Mary Surratt and Dr. Samuel Mudd, were convicted by a military commission of conspiring with John Wilkes Booth, the assassin of President Abraham Lincoln. (Four defendants, including Surratt, were executed; Mudd was sentenced to life in prison, but was pardoned by President Andrew Johnson in 1869.)

Ten years ago: Federal Reserve policymakers boosted the federal funds rate by one-quarter percentage point to [sign in to see URL] percent, the ninth such increase since the Fed began to tighten credit in June 2004 in an effort to keep inflation under control. Spain became the third country (after the Netherlands and Belgium) to legalize same-sex marriage.

Five years ago: President Barack Obama talked about the economy at a town hall in Racine, Wis., saying, "We got it moving again," and that he intended to get "our debt and our deficits under control," but warned he wouldn't slash spending at the expense of the economic rebound. Benigno Aquino III was sworn in as the Philippines' 15th president.

One year ago: A sharply divided Supreme Court ruled that some companies with religious objections could avoid the contraceptives requirement in President Barack Obama's health care overhaul, the first time the high court declared that businesses can hold religious views under federal law. President Obama tapped former Procter & Gamble CEO Robert McDonald to take over the troubled Veterans Affairs Department. The Israeli military found the bodies of three missing teenagers just over two weeks after they were abducted in the occupied West Bank, allegedly by Hamas militants. Writer, actor, producer and director Paul Mazursky, 84, died in Los Angeles. Actor Bob Hastings, 89, died in Burbank, Calif.

Re: June 30thToday is Thursday, June 30, the 182nd day of 2016. There are 184 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:
On June 30, 1966, the National Organization for Women (NOW) was founded in Washington, D.C.

Ten years ago: A tired-sounding Osama bin Laden praised slain Iraq insurgent Abu Musab al-Zarqawi (AH'-boo MOO'-sahb ahl-zahr-KOW'-ee) in an audiotape. The government of the Netherlands resigned over a failed attempt to strip Ayaan Hirsi Ali, a prominent Somali-born critic of Islam, of her Dutch citizenship.

Five years ago: The [sign in to see URL] Special Tribunal for Lebanon issued an indictment naming four suspects in the assassination of Lebanon's former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri (rah-FEEK' hah-REER'-ee), including a high-ranking Hezbollah militant linked to the 1983 truck bombings at the U.S. and French embassies in Kuwait. (Hezbollah has refused to extradite the suspects, who are being tried in absentia.) Conservative TV commentator Glenn Beck said goodbye to Fox News Channel, airing his final show before going into business for himself.

One year ago: A tough-talking New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie launched his 2016 campaign for president with a promise to tell voters the truth "whether you like it or not, or whether it makes you cringe every once in a while or not." An Indonesian Air Force transport plane crashed, killing at least 121 people on board and 22 on the ground. Actress Jennifer Garner and actor Ben Affleck announced plans to end their 10-year marriage.

Re: June 30th - Happy Birthday Vincent D'Onofrio, Mike Tyson & Michael PhelpsToday is Friday, June 30, the 181st day of 2017. There are 184 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:
On June 30, 1997, the Union Jack was lowered for the last time over Government House in Hong Kong as Britain prepared to hand the colony back to China at midnight after ruling it for 156 years.

Ten years ago: Two men rammed an SUV loaded with gasoline canisters into the main terminal at Glasgow (GLAS'-goh) Airport in Scotland, failing to set off an explosion, but seriously burning one of the suspects; the attack came a day after two cars rigged as bombs were found and defused in London.

Five years ago: Islamist Mohammed Morsi became Egypt's first freely elected president as he was sworn in during a pair of ceremonies. An international conference in Geneva accepted a [sign in to see URL] peace plan calling for creation of a transitional government in Syria, but at Russia's insistence the compromise left the door open to Syria's president being a part of it. Former Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir died at age 96. Yaroslava Shvedova (yar-al-SLAH'-vah SHVEH'-doh-vah) of Kazakhstan became the first player in a Grand Slam tournament to win every point of a set on her way to beating French Open runner-up Sara Errani 6-0, 6-4 in the third round of Wimbledon.

One year ago: Saying it was the right thing to do, Defense Secretary Ash Carter announced that transgender people would be allowed to serve openly in the U.S. military, ending one of the last bans on service in the armed forces. President Barack Obama signed a rescue package for financially strapped Puerto Rico, which was facing more than $70 billion in debt and a major payment due the next day. Rodrigo Duterte (doo-TEHR'-tay) was sworn as president of the Philippines.

Re: June 30th - Happy Birthday Vincent D'Onofrio, Mike Tyson & Michael PhelpsToday is Saturday, June 30, the 181st day of 2018. There are 184 days left in the year.

Today's Highlights in History:
On June 30, 1865, eight people, including Mary Surratt and Dr. Samuel Mudd, were convicted by a military commission of conspiring with John Wilkes Booth, the assassin of President Abraham Lincoln. (Four defendants, including Surratt, were executed; Mudd was sentenced to life in prison, but was pardoned by President Andrew Johnson in 1869.)

On June 30, 1918, labor activist and socialist Eugene V. Debs was arrested in Cleveland, charged under the Espionage Act of 1917 for a speech he'd made two weeks earlier denouncing U.S. involvement in World War I. (Debs was sentenced to prison and disenfranchised for life.)

10 years ago in 2008: President George W. Bush signed legislation to pay for war operations in Iraq and Afghanistan for the rest of his presidency and beyond, hailing the $162 billion plan as a rare product of bipartisan cooperation. The United States announced that it was charging Saudi Arabian Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri with "organizing and directing" the 2000 bombing of the USS Cole in waters off Yemen, and would seek the death penalty. (Al-Nashiri, who's being held at Guantanamo, has yet to stand trial.)

5 years ago in 2013: 19 elite firefighters known as members of the Granite Mountain Hotshots were killed battling a wildfire northwest of Phoenix after a change in wind direction pushed the flames back toward their position. Addressing students at the University of Cape Town, South Africa, President Barack Obama declared that the future of the young and growing continent still rested in Nelson Mandela's vision for equality and opportunity. Inbee Park won the U.S. Women's Open in Southampton, New York, for her third straight major of the year.

1 year ago in 2017: President Donald Trump and South Korea's new leader, Moon Jae-in, concluding two days of talks at the White House, showed joint resolve on North Korea despite their divergent philosophies for addressing the nuclear threat.